X. EXERCISE STRESS TEST
We strongly recommend regular, moderate exercise for healthy individuals and those with coronary or mild valvular heart disease. Fitness makes one feel like living and confers a sense of well-being. If you are relatively fit, you can enjoy your favorite sport with better breathing capabilities and without feeling your heart pounding. If you are fit, you are not likely to be overweight, your clothes fit you better, and you feel and look better. Westrongly recommend regular, moderate exercise to achieve a state of ‘‘relative fitness.’’
We recommend vigorous exercise to those who are healthy and already fit. A fit heart idles at a slower speed. A heart that beats slower allows better filling of normal or partially obstructed coronary arteries. There is no scientific proof or adequate evidence, however, to suggest that vigorous exercise will make you live longer. If you are over age 40, mainly sedentary, and engage in occasional mild exercise, do not start vigorous exercise without having a medical check or stress test. Start with walking one to two miles daily, slowly adding cycling, swimming, or similar exercise. Avoid vigorous exercise until you have done more than two months of daily moderate exercise.